Panel mounted potentiometer



Feb. 27, 1968 L. w. SCHEEL PANEL MOUNTED POTENTIOMETER Filed Oct. 22, 1965 I 400/ #4 semi-'54 5r 727612, f M ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,371,304 PANEL MOUNTED POTENTIOMETER Louis W. Scheel, Columbus, Iowa, assignor to Dale Electronics, Inc., Columbus, Nebn, a corporation of Nebraska Filed Oct. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 516,732 7 Claims. (Cl. 338-180) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A potentiometer including a body portion having a mounting stud extending from one end thereof, a onepiece leadscrew is mounted in the body portion and has a head portion received by a longitudinal bore formed in the mounting stud. The mounting stud is maintained in the body portion by a mounting bracket which embraces opposite sides of the body portion.

This invention relates to a potentiometer and more particularly to a potentiometer having a panel mounting bracket operatively secured thereto.

Potentiometers are commonly mounted on the backside of an instrument panel which gives rise to several problems. One such problem is the difficulty encountered in the adjustment of the leadscrew of the potentiometer. The potentiometers presently available cannot be rigidly secured to the instrument panel and are, therefore, unsatisfactory. Additionally, the potentiometers presently available utilize an extension shaft coupled to the main leadscrew and have a certain amount of play therein which creates a loss of rotary motion.

Therefore, a principal object of this invention is to I provide a potentiometer having a panel mounting bracket operatively secured thereto.

A further objection of this invention is to provide a potentiometer having a panel mounting bracket operatively secured thereto which may be rigidly secured to an instrument panel.

A further object of this invention is to provide a potentiometer having a one-piece leadscrew operatively associated therewith which extends outwardly therefrom through a stud securely affixed to the potentiometer case assembly.

A further object of this invention is to provide a potentiometer having a panel mounting bracket operatively secured thereto wherein the potentiometer includes a onepiece leadscrew extending outwardly therefrom from a stud afiixed to the potentiometer case assembly, and wherein the stud is adapted to extend through an aperture in an instrument panel and being operatively secured thereto.

A further object of this invention is to provide a means for securing a potentiometer to an instrument panel whereby loss of rotary motion of the leadscrew is prevented.

A further object of this invention is to provide a potentiometer having a panel mounting bracket operatively secured thereto which provides a moisture-sealer-trimmer and which additionally provides a moisture-sealed entrance through the instrument panel to which the potentiometer is attached.

A further object of this invention is to provide a potentiometer having a panel mounting bracket operatively secured thereto which is economical of manufacture, durable in use and refined in appearance.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

This invention consists in the construction, arrangements, and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the potentiometer and the nut and lock washer assembly which is adapted to be received on the externally threaded portion of the potentiometer mounting stud; and

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the potentiometer wherein the broken lines represent the stud extending outwardly from the potentiometer case assembly; and

FIG. 3 is a side view of the potentiometer secured to an instrument panel, the potentiometer being broken away to more fully illustrate the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a top elevational view of the device secured to an instrument panel.

The numeral 9 generally designates the potentiometer having a panel mounting bracket 11 operatively secured thereto. Potentiometer 10 includes an elongated, rectangular case assembly or body 13, constructed of suitable dielectric material such as plastic or the like. Body 13 includes opposite ends 15 and 17, opposite sides 19 and 21, top 23 and bottom 25. Potentiometer 10 also includes a compartment 27 having a resistance coil 29 operatively mounted therein, the opposite ends of which are connected to terminals 31 and 33 respectively, extending outwardly through end 15.

As best seen in FIGURE 3, end 17 of body 13 is provided with a bore 35 formed therein. The numeral 37 designates an elongated stud having an inner end portion 39 which adapted to be received by bore 35 and also having an externally threaded outer end portion 41. Stud 37 is provided with a peripheral flange member 43 extending transversely therefrom which is adapted to abut end 17 when inner end portion 39 of stud 37 is received in bore 35. Stud 37 is securely fastened to body 13 by means of a suitable adhesive. Stud 37 is provided with an elongated bore 45 extending therethrough which includes a reduced diameter portion 47 at the inner end thereof, thereby creating a shoulder 49.

A leadscrew 51 is operatively mounted in compartment 27 and has one end thereof journaled in end 15 of body 13. Leadscrew 51 is provided with threads along a portion of its length and has a wiper arm 53 operatively mounted thereon so that the wiper arm will be moved longitudinally of the leadscrew when the leadscrew is turned with respect to body 13. Wiper arm 53 is operatively connected to a collector bar (not shown) which is connected to terminal 34. Leadscrew 51 is provided with a head portion 55 having a slotted outer end adapted to receive a screwdriver to facilitate the turning thereof. Head portion 55 of leadscrew 51 is also provided with a groove 57 formed therein which is adapted to receive a seal 59 therein. As best seen in FIGURE 3, head portion 55 of leadscrew 51 is received by bore 45 in stud 3'7 and has its inner end engaging shoulder 49 to limit the inward movement of leadscrew 51 with respect to stud 37. A spring member 61 is operatively mounted on leadscrew 51 and engages the inner end of stud 37 to limit the outward movement of leadscrew 51 with respect to stud 37. The numeral 63 and 65 represent a nut and lock washer respectively which are adapted to be received by the externally threaded outer end 41 of stud 37.

Panel mounting bracket 11 is U-shaped and includes an apertured base portion 65 having leg members 67 and 69 extending transversely therefrom. Preferably, bracket 11 should be constructed of a suitable metal material. Leg members 67 and 69 are provided with apertures 71, '73 and 75, 77, respectively, which are adapted to register with bores 79 and 81 formed in body 13 of potentiometer 10. As seen in the drawings, aperture 83 in base portion 65 of bracket 11 is adapted to receive the outer end of stud 37 which extends therethrough. Rivets 85 and 87 rigidly secure bracket 11 to potentiometer 10.

The numeral 89 generally designates a panel through which the device is secured having an aperture 91 formed therein which is adapted to receive stud 37 extending therethrough. As best seen in FIGURES 3 and 4, the device is mounted on the backside of panel 89 so that base portion 65 of bracket 11 abuts the back surface of panel 8S? and so that the externally threaded outer end 41 of studs 37 extends through aperture 91. Washer 65 and nut 63 are then threadably tightened on stud 37 to rigidly maintain the device on panel 3?. It can be seen that the inner surface of base portion 65 of bracket 11 is positioned against the outer surface of flange 43. It is obvious that nut 63 forces washer 65 against the front side of panel 89 and this prevents moisture from passing from the front side of panel 39 to the back side of panel 89. Additionally, seal 59 not only acts as a bearing but also prevents moisture from entering the potentiometer by means of bore 45. The potentiometer is firmly attached to the panel 8? due to the fact that the mounting stud 37 is firmly and permanently attached to the potentiometer and then further reinforced by means of the mounting bracket 11. This unique means of securing a mounting bracket 11 to the potentiometer 10, which firmly maintains stud 37 in potentiometer It}, insures that there will not be any play in the mount. By providing a onepiece leadscrew 51, there is no need for coupling an extension shaft to the main leadscrew. Thus, no loss of rotary motion is incurred when a screwdriver is used to turn leadscrew 51. The slotted outer end of leadscrew 51 is readily accessible from the front side of panel 89 and can be easily turned by means of a screwdriver. Thus it can be seen that a means has been provided to obtain a more rigid mating of the potentiometer to the control panel. Thus it can be seen that the device accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of my potentiometer without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my invention to cover by my claims, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim: 1. In a potentiometer, a body portion having opposite ends and at least two opposing sides, and a compartment formed therein,

an elongated resistance element in said compartment, the opposite ends of which are operatively secured to first and second terminals extending from one end of said body portion,

said other end of said body portion having a first bore formed therein and extending therethrough and being in communication with said compartment,

a mounting stud including an inner end portion and an externally threaded outer end portion, said inner end portion being received by said first bore and being rigidly secured therein,

said stud having a longitudinal bore formed therein extending therethrough which is in communication with said compartment,

said stud having a flange member including inner end and outer surfaces, extending transversely therefrom with respect to the longitudinal axis thereof, the inner end of said flange member abutting against said other end of said body portion,

an elongated leadscrew operatively mounted in said compartment with one of its ends journaled in said one end of said body portion and with the other of its ends having a cylindrical head portion rotatably received by said longitudinal bore in said mounting stud, said leadscrew having a slotted outer end which is adapted to receive a screwdriver extending into said longitudinal bore from the outer end of said stud,

said longitudinal bore having a reduced diameter portion forming a shoulder, the inner end of said cylindrical head portion of said leadscrew engaging said shoulder to limit the inner movement of said leadscrew with respect to said longitudinal bore,

a wiper arm assembly operatively mounted on said leadscrew in said compartment for longitudinal movement therealong, said wiper arm operatively engaging said resistance element and being operatively connected to a third terminal extending from said one end of said body portion,

a U-shaped mounting bracket including an apertured base portion and opposing leg members extending transversely therefrom,

said leg members being positioned adjacent said body portion sides and being operatively secured thereto so that said base portion abuts against the outer end of said flange member and so that said externally threaded portion of said stud extends through the aperture in said base portion,

said potentiometer and mounting bracket being adapted to be secured to a panel member having an aperture formed therein and also having opposite sides, said externally threaded portion of said stud extending through the aperture in the panel member so that said base portion of said brackets abuts against one side of the panel, said externally threaded portion of said stud adapted to threadably receive a mounting nut thereon, said mounting nut operatively engaging the other side of said panel member.

2. The potentiometer of claim 1 wherein said cylindrical head portion of said leadscrew has a groove formed therein extending thcrearound which is adapted to receive an O-ring.

3. The potentiometer of claim 1 wherein a spring means is operatively mounted on said leadscrew in said compartment which engagesthe inner end of said stud to limit the outward movement of said leadscrew with respect to said stud.

4. The potentiometer of claim 1 wherein said leadscrew is of one-piece construction.

5. 'In a potentiometer,

a body portion including opposite ends and a compartment formed therein,

one of said ends of said body portion having a bore formed therein extending therethrough which is in communication with said compartment,

a mounting stud including an inner end portion and an externally threaded outer end portion, said inner end portion being received by said bore in said one end of said body portion and being rigidly secured therein,

said mounting stud having a flange member extending ransversely therefrom which abuts against said one end of said body portion,

said mounting stud having a longitudinal bore formed therein extending therethrough which is in communication with said compartment,

an elongated leadscrew operatively mounted in said compartment with one of its ends journaled in said one end of said body portion and with the other of its ends having a cylindrical head portion rotatably received by said longitudinal bore,

means engaging said head portion limiting the longitudinal movement of said leadscrew,

a mounting bracket operatively secured to said body portion and having an apertured base portion abutting against said flange member,

said threaded outer end portion of said stud extending through the aperture in a panel member,

said threaded outer end portion of said stud adapted to threadably receive a nut means thereon to rigidly secure the potentiometer to the panel member.

6. In combination with a panel member having a front side,

a back side and an aperture formed therein,

a potentiometer including a body portion having opposite ends and at least two opposing sides, and a compartment formed therein,

an elongated resistance element in said compartment, the opposite ends of which are operatively secured to first and second terminals extending from one end of said body portion,

said other end of said body portion having a first bore formed therein and extending therethrough and being in communication with said compartment,

a mounting stud including an inner end portion and externally threaded outer end portion, said inner end portion being received by said first bore and being rigidly secured therein,

said stud having a longitudinal bore formed therein extending therethrough which is in communication with said compartment,

said stud having a flange member including inner end and outer surfaces, extending transversely therefrom with respect to the longitudinal axis thereof, the inner end of said flange member abutting against said other end of said body portion,

an elongated leadscrew operatively mounted in said compartment with one of its ends journaled in said one end of said body portion and with the other of its ends having a cylindrical head portion rotatably received by said longitudinal bore in said mounting stud, said leadscrew having a slotted outer end which is adapted to receive a screwdriver extending into said longitudinal bore from the outer end of said stud,

said horizontal bore having a reduced diameter portion forming a shoulder, the inner end of said cylindrical head portion of said leadscrew engaging said shoulder to limit the inner movement of said leadscrew with respect to said longitudinal bore,

a wiper arm assembly operatively mounted in said leadscrew in said compartment for longitudinal movement therealong, said wiper arm operatively engaging said resistance element and being operatively con nected to a third terminal extending from said one end of said body portion,

a U-shaped mounting bracket including an apertured base portion and opposing leg members extending transversely therefrom,

said leg members being positioned adjacent said body portion sides and being operatively secured thereto so that said base portion abuts against the outer end of said flange member and so that said externally threaded portion of said stud extends through the aperture in said base portion,

said potentiometer and said bracket being positioned adjacent the back side of said panel member so that said externally threaded outer end portion of said stud extends through the aperture in said panel member and so that said bracket base portion engages the back side of said panel,

and a nut threadably mounted on said externally threaded outer end portion to maintain said potentiometer and said bracket on the back side of said panel member.

17. The combination of claim 6 wherein a washer element is positioned between the front side of the panel and said nut.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,772,281 8/1930 Friedrich et a1. 338-180 X 2,178,241 10/1939 Rubinstein 338l X 3,018,459 1/1962 Hardison et a1. 338 X 3,149,300 9/1964 Place et a1. 338184 X ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner. H. J. HOHAUSER, Assistant Examiner. 

